Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-11-28
sEr. seedham. tho Evangelist.

The following concerning Mr.. Needham
the evangelist, who is now conducting
services in the Baptist Church in this city
is condensed frog The Christian Herald:
TN 1867 two young evangelists in Great
Britain agreed to visit America. These
Young mon were Geo. c. Needharn, and the
late Henry Mcorhouse Mr.. Needham de-
tanned By tic sickness Of q sister, die moi
reach America until three months after
Moorhouse He landed at Boston, and the
next day gave brief talk Mt the Young
Mems Christian Association. Invitations to
preach began ct once to pour in upon him
Moorhorsa had already reached the public
through Moody Id Chicago; and there
aiterward, upon Aloody's invitation, Need
ham also Iabored. Mr.. Needham was born
little over forty years ago in Ireland, not
far from the famous lakes of Killarney. His
parents were Irish Professionals. When five
years old George received a deciiieG religi-
Gus impression from hearing an older sister
recite sermop, hut it was not until his
eighteenth year, when the great revival
swept over Ireland that he became fully as
sured Of salvation. When nineteen years
old young Needham entered business in
Dublin, and soon won the esteem of his on
ployers by detecting system Of fraud which
had for some time been practiced upon
them. The year following he gave up his
position and entered upen the work CT on
evangelist.
When bis first trial came, through lack OF
funds, be determined 10 revisit bis father.
That night he had troubled sleep. Three
times be dreamed that bis father and him
self were net fishing, and every time they
threw the net his father fell overheard and
became entaneled in the meshcs. The
morning found hin feverish and detected.
He sought relief in prayer and arose
!rengthened, when telegram reached him.
he surmieed evil tidings, and before opening
it, again sought help Of God. Peace came,
and he was ready for the terrible news
Your father waa drowned yesterday. Come
home" Soon after the settlement of family
affairs be returned to his work, and preach.
cd with marked success in England and
Ireland.
Observing The shabby condition of his
clothes, he ventured to pray for new suit
He had not heard OF any one before doing
this. la q short time be received q letter
asking him TO call on certain chop keepers
On doing so they found they he'd been
authorized by on unknown friend to renew
his wardrobe out end out. The packages
came to his room, when, spreading them
omen, he challenged the devil to look at his
Fathers gift, and never again tempt him to
believe that he would either starye or go
ragged if he continued to preach Christ.
A recent critic has tersely said: ''Mr.
Needham emphasizes. e!ucidates, breaches
the Word.n Hia constant aim ia to exalt
Gods Word, believing that the Scriptures
explain themselves.
Mr. Needham is an evangelist pure and
simple; not professional reviralist. To
church once asking how to advertise him
he wrote: by no means advertise me as
5sing sensational, or magnetic, or eloquent,
or scholarly, or smart, or any such thing,
but only as a plain man, telling plain
story, in plain manner
At one lime MIR. Needham desired to eu-
ter Surgeons college; but the latter. see
ing what good work he was doing, advised
him to continue like Paul "straightway to
preach Christ" Ee has labored with lead
ing erangelists both in England and Ameri-
CO, and especially in this country with his
attached brethren, MOODY and Sankey.